Harold Ridings

Dr. Harold D. Ridings, 91, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Friday, May 17, 2013.

Born May 29, 1921, in Arbyrd, Mo., he was the son of Gus Hill Ridings and Edith Clara Masters Ridings.

Hal graduated from high school at age 16, then attended Arkansas State University. In June 1943 he graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School, less than one month after he turned age 22.

Hal served in World War II with the 78th Lightning Infantry Division in Europe as a battalion surgeon with the rank of captain. He was present at the capture of the Remagen Bridge in Germany.

After the service, he took a job as camp physician in Harveyton, Ky., where he met and married Madge, his beloved wife of 65 years. They moved to Kansas City, Mo., where Hal did his residency in internal medicine at Kansas City General Hospital.

In 1950, they moved to Cape Girardeau, where they raised two daughters and have lived ever since. For many years "Doc Ridings" was the only board-certified physician in internal medicine in Cape Girardeau.

He retired from his medical practice in 1988. Never one to remain idle long, that same year Hal continued to use his medical training and started working for the Social Security Administration doing disability determinations. He continued there for 17 years, retiring in December 2005 after practicing medicine for more than 60 years.

Hal was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and a Rotarian. He enjoyed growing roses and shared them with many family, friends and organizations. He enjoyed tennis, golfing, traveling and playing bridge with their many wonderful friends. He will be remembered as a kind, gentle and caring husband, father, grandfather, physician and friend.

Hal is survived by his loving wife Madge; two daughters and their families, Elizabeth and Gary Scheidt of Moneta, Va., and Sharon and Greg Steele of Overland Park, Kan.; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Charles Ridings. We all love you very much and will miss you.

Brothers Ray Ridings and Don Ridings and sister Wenona Harrison preceded him in death.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau.

The family suggests that expressions of sympathy take the form of memorial donations to the First Presbyterian Church.

Morgan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.